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Monday, January 13

Washington’s new House speaker makes history today; here’s what to expect from Laurie Jinkins
Here are some facts about Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, who on Monday will become the speaker of the Washington House of Representatives: When things get tense, she sends mass emails to her House colleagues with Nancy Drew quotes. Her day planner, a Christmas gift from her wife, is emblazoned with “Womankind World Domination Action Planner.” Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner / The Seattle Times)

Homelessness, guns among 2020 legislative priorities
The Washington state Legislature will try to address homelessness, the climate crisis and gun violence this session, but per usual the fight over funding will likely be front and center. Continue reading at Bothell-Kenmore Reporter.

Snow causes power outages, school closures
A winter storm in Washington state left thousands of without power in the greater Seattle area and caused school closures and delays. About 19,000 Puget Sound Energy customers were without power Monday morning along with more than 6,000 customers of the Snohomish Public Utility District. In Western Washington most of the snow fell north of Seattle overnight, with up to six inches reported in areas. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald.

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Associated Press
List of firearms bills to be proposed at Legislature (Kuderer, Valdez)
Lawmaker slams report labeling him a ‘domestic terrorist’
FAA seeks to fine Boeing $5.4 million over faulty Max parts
Snow causes power outages, school closures
Port of Olympia settles lawsuit over storm water for $1.3M
Homelessness among issues to watch in Washington Legislature (Jinkins, Chopp, Billig)
Washington state college faculty union announces strike
Port of Olympia settles lawsuit over storm water for $1.3M
Homelessness among issues to watch in Washington Legislature (Jinkins, Chopp, Billig)
Claim by advocates seeking to stop wolf shooting dismissed
Washington’s 60-day legislative session starts Monday (Jinkins)

Aberdeen Daily World
Coastal Caucus talks transportation, schools at 2020 legislative send-off (Takko, Blake, Tharinger, Chapman, Van De Wege)
Michigan Street site still being considered for homeless camp
Basich Boulevard repairs estimated at $500,000

Arlington Times
Arlington, Marysville, Port of Everett sign pact to grow Cascade Industrial Center together
Arlington moves to end court, jail services with Marysville; contract with county

Auburn Reporter
Meet the group trying to electrify America’s railroads
Pacific, Covington mayors join local leaders meeting with Port of Seattle executive director

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Bellingham likes this tax break. But federal limits still apply
Overnight snow, wind lead to Whatcom County school closures and delays Monday
Why set Target Zero as goal for traffic fatalities? Because others are getting close
CBP says some ‘may experience increased wait times and subsequent interviews’
Homelessness is up in U.S., but down in Washington state for first time in 9 years, feds say
Washington lawmakers vow to let Supreme Court public-records ruling stand (Billig)
Inslee’s budget priorities don’t include K-12 education. Can anyone change that? (Billig, Rolfes)

Bothell Reporter
Washington state has been under-producing housing units for decades (Kuderer, Macri)
Homelessness, guns among 2020 legislative priorities (Billig, Jinkins, Kuderer, Macri)

Capital Press
Seattle judge dismisses claim by wolf advocates
Policy center adds up tax burden Washington farmers pay

Columbian
2020 Legislative Preview: 7 key issues for Clark County’s delegation (Wylie, Stonier, Cleveland, Santos)
Democratic lawmakers in Oregon ready to unveil new climate change legislation

The Daily News
Community Court celebrates graduates from program’s first year

Daily World
Coastal Caucus talks transportation, schools at 2020 legislative send-off (Van De Wege, Takko, Tharinger, Blake, Chapman)

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Small local suppliers flying blind through 737 Max crisis
Cornfield Report: Welcome to our new weekday newsletter about the Legislature (Jinkins, Chopp)
Policy fights, political tension loom for state lawmakers (Jinkins, Chopp, Ortiz-Self, Hobbs, Das)
WaPo: Commentary: Local governments can’t opt out of state gun laws
Commentary: What happens when community college is free
Editorial: 10 minutes on census a benefit to entire state

Federal Way Mirror
Meet the group trying to electrify America’s railroads

Islands’ Weekly
Environmentalists stop Anacortes xylene proposal
Climate change and the future of salmon

Issaquah Reporter
Washington state has been under-producing housing units for decades (Macri, Kuderer)

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Climate change and the future of salmon
San Juan County Parks early camping registration for residents

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
How a budding Bremerton assistance program is keeping people in stable housing
Jail inmate dies a week after suicide attempt

News Tribune (subscription required)
Flu now accounts for 8 percent of ER visits in Pierce County

Olympian (subscription required)
Snow is coming to South Sound. Here’s what you need to know to be prepared
Providence proposes second Lacey location for mental health hospital
The next move in our war against homelessness needs to be closing the bridge camp
Stomach found in Olympia yard ‘definitely non-human,’ Thurston Coroner says

Puget Sound Business Journal
Trump administration to curb lawsuits by franchise workers
‘Clarion call’ for housing: Report says state fell well short on production

Renton Reporter
Meet the group trying to electrify America’s railroads
Washington state has been under-producing housing units for decades (Macri, Kuderer)
Homelessness, guns among 2020 legislative priorities (Billig, Kuderer, Macri Jinkins)

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Homelessness, climate change, car tabs, guns and Matt Shea: It’s all on the table as 2020 Legislature begins (Macri, Rolfes, Billig, Jinkins, Chopp)
Trump tweet targets Mercer Island man appointed to advise secretive federal surveillance court
For people living outside, here’s where to escape from the cold
Editorial: How to put Matt Shea in his place
‘Please leave the chair.’ Inslee makes Eyman a punchline after anti-tax activist interrupts Q&A
Op-Ed: Labor unions would be winners of Seattle’s proposed campaign-finance rules
Several inches of snow in parts of Puget Sound region, and more on the way
Op-Ed: Casualty of fear: I’m an Iran-born U.S. citizen detained at Sea-Tac
Op-Ed: Putting politics aside to get the job done
What to expect from Laurie Jinkins, Washington’s first new House speaker in decades (Chopp, Tarleton, Lovick, Morgan)
Discrimination has no place at the U.S.-Canada border
Special sunglasses, license-plate dresses, Juggalo face paint: How to be anonymous in the age of surveillance
Koalas could be classified ‘endangered’ after fires decimate population (Bloomberg)
Q&A | Gov. Jay Inslee on homelessness, climate change and problems with Washington prisons
Have you bought a shovel yet? Officials urge Seattleites to prepare for possible snow.
Ideas for a new tax on big businesses like Amazon swirl in Seattle as debate heats up again
Despite criticisms from LGBTQ community, Seattle Public Library will allow ‘radical feminist’ event to proceed
How Washington colleges are opening their doors to adults with intellectual disabilities
Big Obama administration grants for Washington’s worst schools paid off, new study shows

Seattle Weekly
Washington state has been under-producing housing units for decades
New King County Council members sworn in

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County schools feel effects of state timber plans
County seeks input on hazard mitigation plan

Snoqualmie Valley Record
A new decade begins with low inventory in housing market | Real Estate column

Spokesman Review
Washington Legislative Preview 2020: Legislators, Inslee look to reduce homeless numbers (Kuderer, Macri)
Spokane Public Schools to start late Monday after snowy weekend causes crashes, closes passes
Sacred Heart nurses win big with tentative agreement; members vote on ratification next week
Former Spokane City Attorney Nancy Isserlis named to Washington panel overseeing campaign disclosures
Sue Lani Madsen: The ultimate surprise medical bill (Billig, Dhingra)

Tri-City Herald
What Tri-Citians need to know about the dam rally and state meeting in Pasco
Pasco LGBTQ rally comes after a gay man was attacked for holding hands
Fairness or bigotry? Kennewick lawmaker’s bill would restrict transgender high school athletes
First Tri-City students banned from school under new vaccine law. More may be coming
Editorial: Kennewick lawmaker’s bill targeting transgender high school athletes is off the mark
Letter to the Editor: Pay-per mile charges will hurt drivers

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Detox facility in the works with $2 million state grant allocation
Editorial: Don’t look for big boost in education funding this year

Washington Post
After mishap with Boeing spacecraft, NASA faces a dilemma
U.S. troops on Iraqi base had minutes notice before barrage of Iranian rockets
Preparations accelerate for historic Senate trial of Trump
Opinion: My school district is suing Juul. Here’s why.
As remote work rises at U.S. companies, Trump is calling federal employees back to the office
Mr. President, here’s how the budget works
The Technology 202: Instagram faces backlash for removing posts supporting Soleimani
Five years after an abortion, most women say they made the right decision
Google parent company’s top lawyer to leave following scrutiny for potentially inappropriate relationships

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee awards $15,000 for homeless day shelter
Here’s what to expect as the census gets underway in NCW

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima Valley priorities: A look at what people want out of their lawmakers in Olympia (Dhingra)
Staff gather as Astria Regional shuts down emergency room

Broadcast

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Seattle Police Department release annual report on gun violence
Internal Boeing emails reveal attitudes on 737 Max

KNKX
‘It’s good for them to hear our stories’: Program lets incarcerated young men give input on bills
‘Greatest gig I ever had.’ Speechwriter reflects on the art of writing for Washington’s governor.
Seattle Public Schools will meet with families to talk about the use of physical restraint
Environmental groups identify top legislative priorities as Legislature convenes in Olympia
As Arctic cold hits region, it could bring half a foot of snow to Puget Sound next week

KUOW
Snow across Seattle region disrupts schools, strands drivers in mountains
King County says two local men with neo-Nazi ties are still in Texas. One faces prison, the other a warrant.
With Their Land In Flames, Aboriginals Warn Fires Show Deep Problems In Australia
Iran Says It Shot Down Ukrainian Jetliner By Mistake
Who doesn’t like free? Legislature ponders Washington state park entry fees (Ormsby, Van De Wege)
‘Imminent’ Threat — Trump Justification Of Attack On Iranian General — Is Undefined
Gov. Greg Abbott Says New Refugees Won’t Be Allowed To Settle In Texas
Ukrainian Plane Crash In Iran: Here’s What The Available Evidence Shows
Trump Administration Announces More Economic Sanctions Against Iran
Pelosi To Send Articles Of Impeachment To Senate Next Week
CBP Says Enforcement Actions At U.S.-Mexico Border Down For 7th Straight Month
Enormous ‘Megafire’ In Australia Engulfs 1.5 Million Acres

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
25,000 without power as heavy snow blankets parts of Puget Sound region ‘It’s good for them to hear our stories’: Program lets incarcerated young men give input on bills

NW Public Radio
Gun Safety, Homelessness, Fate Of Matt Shea: Big Issues Loom As Washington Legislature Convenes (Jinkins, Kuderer)
2020 Brings New Protections For West Coast Seafloor Habitat
New Law Aims To Help Americans Without Retirement Plans. Will It Work?
Washington Lawmakers Hope To Discover A Way To Pass Free State Parks Entry Bill This Year (Van de Wege)
How The Trump Administration’s Environmental Policy Rollback Affects The Northwest

Oregon Public Broadcasting
Who Doesn’t Like Free? Legislature Ponders Washington State Park Entry Fees (Ormsby, Van De Wege)

Web

Crosscut
In Seattle, grandmothers raising kids have to rely on each other
The only party in town: What fewer split districts mean for Washington’s political agenda
Washington gets closer to restoring a fuzzy, charismatic carnivore you’ve probably never heard of

Law360
How States Are Responding To The Insulin Price Crisis (Keiser)

Public Service News
Wa Bill Would Reform Sexual Assault Kit Handling (Orwall)

Seattle P.I.
Homelessness among issues to watch in Washington Legislature (Jinkins, Billig)

Friday, January 10

WA State Capitol

4 things on the Legislature’s agenda that could affect your life or your community
The state Legislature’s 60-day session begins Monday. Here are four things to look for that could affect your life, based on Thursday’s Associated Press Legislative Preview. Continue reading in The Bellingham Herald.

Lawmakers: Inslee’s homelessness plan unlikely to pass
Top lawmakers said Thursday that Gov. Jay Inslee’s plan to use hundreds of millions of dollars from the state’s emergency budget reserve to combat Washington’s homelessness crisis was unlikely to pass the Legislature. Last month Inslee said he wants to spend more than $300 million from the state’s rainy day fund to add 2,100 shelter beds and provide other help to people without shelter. Continue reading in The Everett Herald. (Sue Misao / Herald file)

Washington lawmakers vow to let Supreme Court public-records ruling stand this legislative session
Washington’s legislative leaders said Thursday that when they meet for the 2020 legislative session, they won’t curtail the state Supreme Court’s ruling that lawmakers must disclose documents under the Public Records Act. The statements come after the court last month ruled on a lawsuit brought in 2017 by 10 news organizations — including The Seattle Times and The Associated Press — that challenged the Legislature’s self-claimed exemption. That exemption has allowed state lawmakers to withhold documents such as emails, text messages, calendars and investigative reports — even as local and state government routinely release such records. Continue reading in The Seattle Times.

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Associated Press
Lawmakers: Inslee’s homelessness plan unlikely to pass (Billig, Jinkins, Macri)
List of firearms bills to be proposed at Legislature (Kuderer, Valdez)
US blames Iran for Ukrainian jetliner downing, pledges probe
US dismisses Iraq request to work on a troop withdrawal plan
Boeing papers show employees slid 737 Max problems past FAA
DHS reviewing reports of Iranian-Americans delayed at border
$1.3M air pollution fine issued to Gorge aluminum recycler

Aberdeen Daily World
Poll shows homelessness is the issue Washingtonians most want the Legislature to tackle
City warns that high tides, heavy rain could mean flooding in Aberdeen on Friday

Arlington Times
Marysville sets legislative goals for 2020

Auburn Reporter
New King County Council members sworn in

Bainbridge Island Review
WNPA Olympia News Bureau opens for 2020 Legislative Session

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
4 things on the Legislature’s agenda that could affect your life or your community (Billig, Jinkins)
Forecasters are now saying Whatcom County will see 3 to 5 inches of snow
Hoping to get your Whatcom driveway or neighborhood cleared of snow? It can be tough
Taste of winter delights many Whatcom residents. But will it with sub-zero wind chills?
Here’s why three Republicans defied the president and voted to limit his power on Iran
Offshore drilling made easier with Trump’s rollback of environmental standards

Capital Press
FDA to shift more livestock antibiotics to prescription-only
Washington lawmaker proposes allowing CBD in food
Aide: Ranchers’ wolf woes concern Inslee
Stripe rust expert predicts ‘severe epidemic’ of disease

The Daily News
Herrera Beutler opposes House vote to curb Trump military action in Iran

Edmonds Beacon
It’s the law: What’s new in 2020
Op-ed by Rep. Strom Peterson: The 2020 Legislative Session (Ortiz-Self, Liias)

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Mukilteo mayor: It’s getting harder to call this place home
Church settles Snohomish priest’s sex abuse case for $1.7M
Bloomberg: Commentary: Risks of nuclear proliferation — and war — growing
Editorial: They represent you; tell them what you want

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Environmentalists stop Anacortes xylene proposal

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier to change homeports from Bremerton in August
Central Kitsap won’t change school start times
Mike Leach leaving Washington State for Mississippi State

Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Opinion: News Flash: GOP leaders throw the bum out

News Tribune (subscription required)
Editorial: Will 2020 bring a truce in Washington’s anti-vax wars? One can hope. But don’t bet on it

New York Times
The Minimum Wage Is Rising, but These Workers Are Being Left Behind
‘Chaos Is the Point’: Russian Hackers and Trolls Grow Stealthier in 2020
U.S. Added 145,000 Jobs in December; Unemployment at 3.5%

Olympian (subscription required)
Thurston issues ‘Hazardous Weather’ advisory to expand shelter capacity

Peninsula Daily News
Marbled murrelet plans spark lawsuits
Save Our Sequim members speak to legislators about MAT concerns (Van De Wege, Tharinger, Chapman)

Puget Sound Business Journal
US mall retailers hit by declining holiday sales
Boeing employees mocked FAA and flouted safety in internal messages
End of cannabis prohibition would open ‘a whole new world’
Opinion: Twenty years after Y2K, preparing for the next major disaster takes a backseat
Gov. Jay Inslee: Boeing risks state tax incentives if new NMA jet built elsewhere
Insurance producer hit with record fine by state commissioner

Seattle Times (subscription required)
‘Please leave the chair.’ Inslee makes Eyman a punchline after anti-tax activist interrupts Q&A.
Boeing internal documents reveal culture of deceit to keep down costs of 737 MAX
Washington lawmakers vow to let Supreme Court public-records ruling stand this legislative session (Billig)
Inslee’s budget priorities don’t include K-12 education. Can anyone change that? (Billig)
Homelessness is up in U.S., but down in Washington state for first time in 9 years, feds say
Support grows to add a N.E. 130th Street light-rail station in North Seattle quicker than planned
New trial ordered in Woodland Park killing; court says prospective Black juror wrongly dismissed
Police officer sues Seattle, claiming toxic chemicals from homeless-camp cleanup sickened him
Australia braces to relive its ‘hotter than hell’ wildfire nightmare via Bloomberg
Op-Ed: Temporary assistance for needy families can be a lifeline
Editorial: Halt Seattle’s misguided election proposals

Skagit Valley Herald
I-976 puts Sedro-Woolley road funding in jeopardy
Larsen schedules Community Coffee

Snoqualmie Valley Record
New King County Council members sworn in
Landslide at Middle Fork Road presents ongoing danger

South Seattle Emerald
Opinion: Defiance of Sanctuary Law Puts Families and Communities at Risk (Saldaña Op Ed)

Spokesman Review
Calls for Shea resignation continue but House leaders don’t have backup plan (Jinkins)
Report: ‘Cultural change’ needed in enforcement of marijuana laws in Washington state
Shawn Vestal: Racists using technological megaphone to share their small yet dangerous message
City, county prepare for days of plowing ahead of weekend snowstorm in Spokane
East Central Community center undergoing expansion, remodel; dental clinic planned

USA Today
Trump administration hits Iran with new economic sanctions

Vancouver Business Journal
Watch for gray areas in new state leave law
Annual filers have a new April 15 due date
Vancouver mayor appointed to state Tax Structure Work Group
PeaceHealth SWMC is officially baby-friendly
Minuteman Press partners with WSU Vancouver business students for growth

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Inslee releases statement over border detainments

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Legislator forum draws crowd

Washington Post
House votes to limit Trump’s ability to attack Iran
Boeing documents show staffers discussing ways to manipulate regulators on 737 Max
Editorial: Ben Carson’s disturbing retreat on fair housing
Justice Dept. winds down Clinton-related probe sought by Trump after finding nothing of consequence
More than 1 billion animals may have been caught in Australia’s fires. Some may go extinct.
Army general declines to reinstate Special Forces tab to officer pardoned by Trump
Video from Jeffrey Epstein’s first apparent suicide attempt lost due to ‘technical errors,’ prosecutors say
CES shows us a future with flying cars — but can’t avoid the reality of climate change, pollution and war

Wenatchee World
Homeless emergency grabs the attention of lawmakers (Kuderer)

Yakima Herald Republic
Sudden shutdown: Secret court motion offers no clues about Astria Regional closure
Wapato pays $7,500 to settle public records claim
Ecology seeking comment on proposal to clean up old Yakima landfill
Astria Regional closure has ripple effects on region’s health care providers

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Lawmakers: Inslee’s homelessness plan unlikely to pass (Jinkins)
‘Move along, Tim’: Gov. Inslee snubs anti-tax crusader
Looming strike could disrupt garbage collection in parts of King County
Women’s salaries in Washington show signs of stalling compared to men

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Representatives wary of Trump on Iran
WATCH: Inslee to Eyman: Take a seat, just ‘don’t steal it’
Iran denies missile hit Ukrainian plane, requests data from US, Canada to support claim
Legislature to face challenges with transportation and homelessness

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Inslee wants to use state’s $319M ‘rainy day’ fund to house homeless (Kuderer)
Drugs, mental health present unique challenges in south King County
‘It’s concerning:’ State Patrol sees wave of incidents involving drivers armed with guns
Commission looks for new commercial airport location in Western Washington

KNKX FM
‘Problematic snow’ is in the forecast. So are fines if you don’t clear the sidewalks

KUOW FM
U.S. Job Growth Cools In December As Employers Add 145,000 Jobs
Appeals Court Allows Trump To Divert $3.6 Billion In Military Funds For Border Wall
Inslee to Boeing: the next plane gets built in Washington or you lose
We won’t build it: Seattle tech workers struggle with their ties to immigration enforcement
Is There Hope For The American Dream? What Americans Think About Income Inequality
GOP Senator Calls White House ‘Cavalier’ About The Constitution, Backs Curbs on Trump
‘We Will Surely Find Out The Truth’: Questions Linger About Jet Crash In Iran

NW Public Radio
Boeing Employees Mocked FAA In Internal Messages Before 737 Max Disasters
Disabled Woman Received Vinegar Instead Of Colonoscopy Prep. Secrecy Shrouds Her Death

Q13 TV (Fox)
Boeing releases flood of troubling internal documents related to 737 Max
Increasing the minimum wage by $1 could reduce US suicide rates, study finds

Web

Crosscut
Report: Washington should have built 225,600 more homes over past 15 years (Kuderer, Macri)
Across the entire state, WA voters rank homelessness as the No. 1 issue lawmakers must address

Law 360
Washington Bill Seeks To Impose Excise Tax On Ammunition (Dhingra)

MyNorthwest.com
WA Policy Center’s Mariya Frost: Mileage tax could include variable pricing
Boeing papers show employees slid 737 Max problems past FAA

Seattle P.I.
Rep. Matt Shea should quit Legislature or be expelled, House Speaker-designate says
House delivers a message: Don’t ‘stumble into’ another Middle East war

Slog
Hundreds of UW Medical Residents Plan to Call in Sick This Friday
Slog PM: What Democrats Aren’t Doing in Olympia This Year; Parasite Might Come to HBO as a Limited Series; What’s Up, Nancy? (Jinkins, Billig)
Why Are People Worried About Alex Pedersen as Transportation Chair?

Thursday, January 9

Washington Republican Wants to Let Facebook Off the Hook on Political Ad Transparency
Republican Drew MacEwen definitely likes running Facebook ads. A Navy vet and four-term state representative from Union, Washington, which sits at the southern bend of Hood Canal, MacEwen bought Facebook ads to help his re-election campaigns in 2014, 2016, and 2018. In all, he’s reported paying the social media giant more than $5,600 to run ads that trumpeted his accomplishments and, during the 2018 campaign in particular, tore down his Democratic opponent for allegedly wanting to “take away your right to bear arms.” Continue reading in The Stranger. (LSS Photography)

An increase of $1 in the minimum wage is linked to lower suicide rates, a study says
Raising the minimum wage may save lives. A study released this week suggests a correlation between an increase in the minimum wage and declining suicide rates among adults ages 18 to 64. The paper, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, found that state-level increases of $1 in minimum wage corresponded with a 3.4 percent to 5.9 percent decrease in the suicide rates of people with a high school diploma or less in that age group. Continue reading in The Washington Post. (iStock)

When’s snow coming to Oly? Here’s what meteorologists say
There’s a good chance Olympia sees snow next week, meteorologists say, but exactly when is still unclear. A mix of rain and snow couldn’t be “completely ruled out” for lower-elevation areas near Olympia Thursday morning, National Weather Service Meteorologist Samantha Borth told The Olympian. And it was flurrying, in the downtown area at least, around 8 a.m. Continue reading in The Olympian. (National Weather Service)

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Associated Press
Underfunded IRS struggles to send refunds, answer calls
House to vote on restraining Trump’s actions against Iran
Facebook riles tiny Oregon town with plan for undersea cable
Seattle Mayor: City-owned buildings to get off fossil fuels
Body found near Columbia believed to be missing Yakama woman
US officials: ‘Highly likely’ Iran downed Ukrainian jetliner
As wildfires get worse, smoke spreads, stokes health worries

Aberdeen Daily World
Museum feasibility study: Boeing Building ‘needs a new life’
Ocosta schools replacement levy headed for Feb. 11 ballot
U.S. health system costs four times more to run than Canada’s single-payer system

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Pilot from Washington among Americans killed in terror attack at Kenya military base
Legislators push Homeland Security for answers on weekend border detentions in Blaine
Federal civil-rights office opens investigation into Canadian border stops
Everyone’s talking snow for the Whatcom lowlands. Here’s what meteorologists say
No more yearly flu shots? Scientists may have developed a ‘universal’ vaccine
Is an Iran cyber attack imminent — and who is at risk? Here’s how to prepare yourself

Capital Press
Asian giant hornet, a nemesis of honeybees, appears in Washington
Editorial: Killer whales far more complex than many think
Editorial: Farmers await details of China trade pact
Chris Voigt lives for Washington potatoes

Columbian
49th Legislative District lawmakers to hold town hall Saturday (Cleveland, Wylie, Stonier)
Report underscores hazards of dam breaching

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Matt Shea is a man without a caucus. But he has a House seat (Jinkins, Ortiz-Self)
Editorial: Add to state election watchdog’s tools to inform

Islands’ Weekly
FairVote to host three island meetings about ranked-choice voting

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
With higher densities, some fear what’s ahead for Bremerton’s low-income neighborhoods

News Tribune (subscription required)
What’s Tacoma’s plan for tackling homelessness? There is none, judging from People’s Park
On refugee crisis, Pierce County must speak loudly against ‘walls of indifference’
Let there be dark! New light pollution rules in Pierce County make good sense
Snow might be headed our way. Freezing temperatures certainly are

Olympian (subscription required)
When’s snow coming to Oly? Here’s what meteorologists say
Thurston Sheriff and commissioners look to curb overspending in the new year
The Crisis Clinic of Thurston and Mason Counties is facing a crisis of its own
Look out for these fraudulent mailers, Thurston County Sheriff’s Office says

Puget Sound Business Journal
The economy is expanding. Why are economists so glum?
Deflating results of major study point to better ways to cut health care waste
Analyst: Boeing’s compensation to airlines for 737 Max delays may double
Fed charts a new path as regulators revisit bank rules for poor communities

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Iran may seek international help in Boeing 737-800 jet-crash probe through U.N. treaty via Bloomberg
Seattle Children’s faces widening array of lawsuits over fatal mold infections
Arctic front to bring bitter cold and possibility of snow to Seattle area
Driving in the snow can be a Northwest nightmare. Here’s how to do it while saving your sanity.
Federal civil-rights office investigating reports of people being stopped at Canadian border
Op-Ed: Beyond I-976: We need a better way to fund highway projects
Hundreds of Seattle students kept out of classes over vaccine records
Seattle will get city-owned buildings off fossil fuels, Mayor Durkan says
Project Homeless: A podcast making sense of homelessness, from The Seattle Times’ Project Homeless and KNKX
Girmay Zahilay begins work on King County Council as Larry Gossett era ends
Political committee ‘Seattle for a Healthy Planet’ lays groundwork for mystery 2020 ballot measure
What you need to know about 5G in 2020
Editorial: Ensure an accurate 2020 Census count — the first that will be primarily digital

Spokesman Review
Anonymous donation helps eliminate lunch debt in Medical Lake School District
‘We believe in justice’: Couple who fled Tehran for Spokane express concern about U.S. approach to Iran

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Editorial: State wisely keeps pressure on Hanford cleanup effort

Washington Post
Op-Ed: I’m a U.S. citizen. My family was detained at the border because we’re from Iran.
Missile strike on U.S. targets ‘did not intend to kill,’ says Iranian commander
White House wants to change rules to speed up highway projects, pipelines, drilling
Ring fired employees for abusing access to people’s video data, company tells lawmakers
An increase of $1 in the minimum wage is linked to lower suicide rates, a study says
Facebook won’t limit political ad targeting or stop false claims under new ad rules
Federal Reserve proposes overhaul of anti-redlining law, deepening rift among financial regulators
The Daily 202: The ghosts of 1979 still haunt U.S. policy toward Iran and shadow Trump’s response to missile strikes
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says she is cancer-free, according to report
Pelosi resists pressure to transmit impeachment articles to Senate
Hit by devastating earthquakes, Puerto Rico still waiting on billions for hurricane relief
Facebook executive says company was responsible for Trump’s victory but warns against policy changes
Oops. Some federal workers are not covered by the new family leave law.

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima to lose 1 of 2 hospitals; Astria closing Regional as part of bankruptcy

Broadcast

KEPR
Washington schools could offer free menstrual hygiene products by 2021 (Dhingra)

KING5 TV (NBC)
Hundreds of Seattle students without updated vaccine records at deadline
Homeland Security investigating after Iranian-Americans say they were detained at Washington border
City of Seattle gives lifeline to vulnerable small businesses
Washington state won’t add HPV to mandatory vaccine list

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Cleanup underway at Tacoma park after city shuts down homeless encampment
Live updates: House to vote on War Powers Resolution limiting Trump’s actions against Iran
DoD: Too early to talk deployments from JBLM

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Advocates hope cleanup of Tacoma tent city start of something positive
Seattle mayor: City-owned buildings to get off fossil fuels
Family joins Seattle Children’s lawsuit after infant exposed to deadly mold
Lakewood HS in lockdown after reports of shots fired, police say

KNKX FM
KNKX, Seattle Times partner to produce in-depth podcast series on homelessness
UW resident physicians staging a ‘wellness day off’ Friday
‘Where’s my safety?’ Homeless issues dominate first Olympia City Council meeting of 2020
Trump Says Iran Is ‘Standing Down,’ Vows To Continue Pressure

KUOW FM
Saudi Arabia Sought Dialogue With Iran. Then The U.S.-Iranian Conflict Escalated
‘Living next to a parking lot’ in a Washington town taken over by giant warehouses
Trump Administration Proposes Major Changes To Bedrock Environmental Law
Iran’s U.N. Ambassador: Strike On U.S. Bases Was ‘Measured, Proportionate Response’
This Migrant Won In Immigration Court, And The U.S. Sent Him To Mexico Anyway
U.S. Army Alert: You Are Not Being Drafted
Raising The Minimum Wage By $1 May Prevent Thousands Of Suicides, Study Shows

NW Public Radio
Dams Vs. Salmon: Workshops Aim To Get Past ‘My Study Can Beat Up Your Study’ On Snake River

Q13 TV (Fox)
Landslide threat increasing as powerful storm expected by weekend

Web

Seattle P.I.
Here’s how homelessness in Seattle has changed over the decade
A look back at what Seattle rents were like in your neighborhood at the beginning of the decade
Seattle sees increase in median base pay year over year, no change in job growth, report finds

Slog
Washington Republican Wants to Let Facebook Off the Hook on Political Ad Transparency (Kuderer, Pellicciotti)
The Short Legislative Session Should Not Stop Us From Taxing the Rich (Nguyen)

Wednesday, January 8

US, Iran step back from brink; Trump says Iran stands down
The U.S. and Iran stepped back from the brink of possible war Wednesday, as President Donald Trump indicated he would not respond militarily after no one was harmed in Iran’s missile strike on two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops. Speaking from the White House, Trump seemed intent on deescalating the crisis, which reached a new height after he authorized the targeted killing last week of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force. Continue reading in The Seattle Times. (Evan Vucci/The Associated Press)

Boeing 737-800 airplane crashes in Iran, killing all 176 aboard
A Ukrainian airliner carrying 176 people crashed on the outskirts of Tehran during a takeoff attempt Wednesday hours after Iran launched its missile attack on U.S. forces, scattering flaming debris and passengers’ belongings across farmland and killing everyone on board. The Iranian military disputed any suggestion the plane had been blown out of the sky by a missile, and Iranian aviation authorities said they suspected a mechanical problem brought down the 3½-year-old Boeing 737. Continue reading in The Seattle Times. (Mohammad Nasiri/The Associated Press)

Seattle council advances ban on most political spending by ‘foreign-influenced’ companies
Seattle moved closer Tuesday to banning most political spending by “foreign-influenced” corporations, as a City Council committee advanced legislation that sponsor Council President M. Lorena González said could block Amazon and similar companies from using money to shape candidate elections. The committee’s vote was unanimous, so the full council is almost certain to pass the ban into law on Monday. Continue reading in The Seattle Times. (Greg Gilbert/The Seattle Times)

Print

Associated Press
Boeing now saying pilots need simulator training for 737 Max
Iran strikes back at US with missile attack at bases in Iraq
Families of 2 Seattle crane collapse victims sue companies
Trump says Iran appears to be ‘standing down’ after strike
Cancer group finds biggest one-year drop in U.S. death rate
Boeing 737-800 airplane crashes near Tehran, killing all on board
Key Boeing supplier may begin shedding workers
Washington county reaches deal over man killed by police
19 flu deaths confirmed in Washington state so far
13 on Washington’s March presidential primary ballot
Landslide halts Amtrak rail service between Portland, Seattle

Aberdeen Daily World
Heavy rain causes slides, some flooding

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Bellingham’s Climate Protection Action Plan has six key targets
What are the Ain Assad and Irbil bases? Iranian missiles target US troops in Iraq
Bellingham Council creates climate committee, will begin discussing recommendations
Had enough of the rain in Whatcom County? Forecasters say it may get worse
‘I remember thinking this is brutal,’ Blaine lawyer says of scene at border crossing
More prescription-strength Zantac recalled. It might have too much of a carcinogen
Texts telling people they’ve just been drafted into the Army are fake, officials say

Capital Press
Fish and Wildlife Commission to let public in, this time
Study: Removing Snake River dams would cost economy, environment
Seattle judge expects to rule soon on wolf claims
Drones effective tools for fruit farmers
WSDA: Fines for pesticide violations too low
Washington plans rule for ‘fine sediment’

Columbian
Oregon creates office for congestion, megaprojects, tolling
In Our View: Protection against surprise billing a good step

The Daily News
‘No perfect site’ for another homeless camp
Longview City Council will swear in new members, elect mayor Thursday
Children’s Discovery Museum opens 2020 Science Sundays with ‘frozen fun’

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Not all are college bound; local students have a new option
Everett Transit set to expand electric buses, cut fuel costs
How to contact your state lawmakers — and other fun facts

Islands’ Weekly
County accepting applications for detached accessory dwelling units
Climate, Community, and Agriculture converge at this year’s San Juan Island Agricultural Summit

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Heard the hum in Sinclair Inlet? This is what it’s from
Public health district looks to ‘build out’ revamped syringe exchange program
Bangor subs to get new kind of nuclear weapon

News Tribune (subscription required)
Landslide stops Amtrak service between Portland and Seattle
Editorial: Let there be dark! New light pollution rules in Pierce County make good sense

Olympian (subscription required)
Did you get a text from an unknown number? It might be a presidential candidate
E-scooters send thousands to hospitals and injure even more in the US, researchers say
Texts telling people they’ve just been drafted into the Army are fake, officials say
Iran, war and politics: How do you talk to kids about what’s going on in the world?

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Families of two Seattle crane collapse victims sue companies over a deadly ‘shortcut’
Westneat: Sign of the times: Being labeled a domestic terrorist may be making Rep. Matt Shea more popular
Seattle council advances ban on most political spending by ‘foreign-influenced’ companies
Seattle Public Schools won’t allow students without complete vaccination records in class starting today
Six people detail their ordeals at Canadian border as Rep. Pramila Jayapal demands answers
Landslide halts Amtrak train travel between Seattle and Portland
Sam Cho, sworn in as Port of Seattle’s only minority commissioner, voices concern about immigration and border policies
Macy’s in Burlington, Walla Walla to close as the retailer cuts underperforming locations
Amazon, Intel and Ford want to harvest your data while you drive (via Bloomberg)
Court: Lawyer, businessman broke campaign finance law
Editorial: Washington’s U.S. representatives are wrong to join anti-abortion push
Op-Ed: Washington lawmakers should listen to voters: No new taxes
Opinion: What’s your personal climate action?

Sequim Gazette
Students encouraged to serve as legislative pages (Van De Wege)

Skagit Valley Herald
Mount Vernon company aims to meet demand for paper straws
Ramel appointed to state House (Morris, Ramel)

Spokesman Review
Two skiers killed, five rescued in aftermath of Silver Mountain avalanche
Sacred Heart nurses reach tentative agreement with Providence officials
Spokane lawmakers put on hold proposal to forgive unpaid utility bills totaling $450,000
Opinion: Graeme Lee Rowlands: Americans should moderate expectations and broaden perspective on modernized Columbia River Treaty

Tri-City Herald
Hanford contractor comes up with way to save $2.5 million
Pasco council makes history by electing city’s first Latino mayor and mayor pro tem

USA Today
Cancer death rate sees biggest one-year drop ever, report says
Could your kid be drafted into the military?
On world stage Trump loathed as much as Obama was loved: survey

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Editorial: Targeting Iranian-Americans at border crossing concerning — if true
Editorial: Statewide effort to help homeless is needed

Washington Post
Ivanka Trump’s CES technology conference keynote address sparks backlash
Live updates: Trump says Iranian strike caused no American or Iraqi deaths; new sanctions on Iran will be imposed
Macy’s is closing 29 stores after drop in holiday sales
Ukrainian passenger jet carrying over 170 people crashes in Iran, killing all on board
176 people died in the Ukrainian plane crash in Iran. Here are some of their stories.
Colorado just used its gun seizure law for the first time — one day after it took effect
Major drugstore chains sue doctors in sprawling federal opioid case
Education Department could face new sanctions for violating court order
At CES, the tech giants are preaching privacy. Don’t believe the hype.

Yakima Herald Republic
Environmental groups poised to sue Majestic Dairy over manure management practices
Wapato finds a new insurance carrier — at a steep cost
New Yakima council members wear traditional clothing during swearing-in ceremony

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Looming strike could disrupt garbage collection in parts of King County
Seattle schools vaccine deadline could keep nearly 1,000 students from class starting Wednesday

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Seattle students without current vaccination records won’t be allowed in class starting Wednesday
Ukrainian plane carrying 176 crashes after takeoff from Tehran; no survivors
Live updates: Trump to address nation after Iran missile strikes target US bases in Iraq
Heavy rain prompts flood warnings, increased landslide risk in western Washington
Rain leads to mudslides and buckled roadways in Grays Harbor County

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Crews work to clear two mudslides, buckled road in Grays Harbor County
Seattle City Council preparing proposal to tax big businesses – again
Nearly 1,000 Seattle students may be kept from class for missing vaccination deadline

KNKX FM
Trump Speaks After Iran Missile Attack On U.S. Troops In Iraq

KUOW FM
Military Base Housing U.S. Troops In Iraq Has Been Attacked
Ukrainian Jetliner Carrying At Least 170 People Crashes Near Tehran Airport
Satellite Photos Reveal Extent Of Damage From Iranian Strike On Air Base In Iraq
Much Of The World Doesn’t Trust President Trump, Pew Survey Finds
Iran warns US not retaliate over missile attack in Iraq
War Powers Resolution On Iran Is Latest Attempt By Congress To Reclaim Clout
Mike Pompeo On Drone Strike That Killed Iran’s Top Military Leader: ‘We Got It Right’
McConnell Will Move Ahead With Impeachment Trial Rules Without Democrats’ Support

NW Public Radio
Moses Lake Airport Close To Maxing Out On Boeing 737 Storage As Planes Stay Grounded
American-Iranians Say They Were Detained At U.S.-Canada Border. Federal Officials Deny It
Unemployment Pushes More Men Into Jobs Fields Dominated By Women

Q13 TV (Fox)
Tacoma shuts down homeless encampment to clean and restore park
The idea of a new cruise terminal on the waterfront getting mixed reactions

Web

AARP Magazine
Bills in Washington State Would Lower Price of Insulin, Other Prescriptions (Keiser)

Crosscut
‘It affects the entire family’: Washington parents now work alongside teens in mental health recovery
Federal Way made it harder to evict renters without ‘good cause.’ The entire state might do the same
An Iranian-born woman held at the Canadian border for 11 hours tells her story

My Ballard
Sen. Reuven Carlyle at tonight’s Ballard District Council meeting

Seattle P.I.
Alex Ramel: Bellingham green activist is new state legislator
Landslide stops Amtrak service between Seattle, Portland
Boeing now saying pilots need simulator training for 737 Max

Slog
Our Car Culture Is Too Obsessed with Drunk Driving and Mostly Ignores Speeding
Clean Campaigns Act Moves Forward, But Super PAC Bill Doesn’t Make It Out of Committee
This CDC Map Shows Why Pot Should Be Legal and Trump Shouldn’t Ban Vapes
After Stranger Lawsuit, State Provides Previously Sealed Records

Tuesday, January 7

Washington’s highest court gets chief justice from Spokane, first Native American member
With ceremonial drumming and singing plus a bit of poetry, the Washington Supreme Court swore in a “daughter of Spokane” as its new chief justice and its first Native American justice ever. Justice Debra Stephens became its 57th chief justice and the first person from Spokane to hold the post since 2001. Continue reading in The Spokesman Review. (Ted S. Warren/AP)

Groups demand answers after Iranian-Americans say they were detained
Civil rights groups and lawmakers demanded information from federal officials Monday following reports that dozens of Iranian-Americans were held up and questioned at the border as they returned to the United States from Canada over the weekend. The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said more than 60 Iranians and Iranian-Americans were detained and questioned for hours at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine. Continue reading in the Peninsula Daily News. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Alex Ramel appointed to replace Jeff Morris as state rep
At a joint meeting January 6, 2020 of the councils from Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties, Alex Ramel was selected as the state representative for the 40th Legislative District in Washington. Continue reading in the San Juan Islander. (Debra Lekanoff)